Inspection Detail

Inspection: 104547971 - Detroit Marine, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Minnesota Department Of Labor And Industry

Investigation Summary

EMPLOYEE #1 WAS ASSIGNED TO REPLACE CARPETING ON THE FLOOR OF A 17 FOOT FIBERGLASS BOAT. THE BOAT WAS LOCATED IN A REPAIR GARAGE HAVING A FLOOR AREA OF 28 BY 30 FEET AND A 10 FOOT CEILING. NO VENTILATION WAS PROVIDED EXCEPT FOR A COMMON HOUSEHOLD FAN USED TO BLOW HEATED AIR FROM AN ADJACENT ROOM 25 FEET AWAY. THE EXTERIOR GARAGE DOORS WERE CLOSED. EMPLOYEE #1 BEGAN REMOVAL OF THE OLD CARPETING AT ABOUT 10:45 AND THEN BEGAN APPLICATION OF LESS THAN 1 QUART OF "WELDWOOD CONTACT CEMENT - NON-FLAMMABLE FORMULA". HE WORKED ALONE IN THE ROOM. AT 11:45 HE LEFT THE AREA BECAUSE HE HAD USED UP THE ADHESIVE. HE WENT TO A LOCAL STORE AND PURCHASED A 1 PINT CAN OF "WELDWOOD CONTACT CEMENT - ORIGINAL FORMULA" AND RETURNED TO THE GLUING TASK AT APPROXIMATELY 12:15. AT 12:45 ANOTHER EMPLOYEE ENTERED THE AREA LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEE #1. HE DID NOT SEE EMPLOYEE #1, SO HE WENT OUTSIDE TO LOOK FOR HIM. AT APPROXIMATELY 1 PM, ANOTHER EMPLOYEE ARRIVED ON SITE AND JOINED IN THE SEARCH. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, EMPLOYEE #1 WAS LOCATED LYING FACE DOWN IN THE BOAT. HE WAS REMOVED FROM THE BOAT AND CPR WAS ADMINISTERED UNTIL AMBULANCE ATTENDENTS ARRIVED. THEY TOOK OVER CPR AND TRANSPORTED EMPLOYEE #1 TO THE HOSPITAL. THE AUTOPSY REPORT REVEALED ACUTE, HEMORGHAGIC TRACHEOBRONCHITIS, CONGESTION OF THE KIDNEYS, EDEMA OF THE BRAIN AND GALL BLADDER, AN ATROPHIC THYMUS, ENLARGED LYMPH NODES AND MILD DILATION OF ALL HEART CHAMBERS.

Keywords: RESPIRATORY, VAPOR, VENTILATION, WORK RULES, INHALATION, CHEMICAL VAPOR, KIDNEY, BRAIN, BOAT, CHEMICAL